Can opener



March 6, 1962 H. E. MARCUS 3,023,497

CAN OPENER Filed March 3, 1960 Harold E. Marcus INVENTOR.

BY WW 23% ilnited States The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a can opener and has reference to a manually actuatable mechanical can opener.

A general objective is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon prior art can openers and, in carrying out the aims under advisement, a novel improvement has been evolved and produced in which manufacturers will find their manufacturing economies and desires adequately taken into account, and users will find their needs aptly and satisfactorily met.

By way of introduction, it is deemed proper and advisable to enumerate certain features and advantages as follows:

(1) As compared to a hanging wall-type can opener, the instant can opener eliminates the trouble of firmly mounting the same in a permanent position on a wall.

(2) An ideal location for a wall-type can opener for one user may be an inconvenient location for another person, say a shorter person or a child; and, very often the can opener is mounted on the wall at such a height or distance that the user must exert effort to reach for it across a wide kitchen counter top.

(3) In the hanging wall-type can opener there is a spline or friction wheel which grips the rim of the can. Sooner or later these splines become leveled oifthrough usage and because of the toughness of the material on which the splines exert their pressure. Thus, in time, the splines slip and no longer exert the originally intended pull, grip or cutting pressure. Further, in time, the bearings also become loosened in the hanging wall-type can opener, and it loses its gripping pressure.

(4) The herein disclosed can opener far surpasses all other types of can openers, including the electric type, by reason of its simple construction, operation and dependability.

(5) A further feature of the can opener is that it can be manufactured and sold at a low cost, probably well under $1.00. This would make it an inexpensive as well as indispensable household implement.

(6) Lifetime use for the instant can opener may be assured. It is sturdily made of steel and accomplishes its function without strain, and also has no readily breakable parts.

(7) The over-all length of the opener is eleven inches. Therefore, it can be stored conveniently in the same drawer where other kitchen utensils are kept.

(8) A practically foolproof, sturdy, opener not dependent, as some new can openers are, on complicated electric mechanisms which are also subject to power failure.

(9) The instant can opener inherently and automatically locks itself physically to the can top at its center, thereby positively preventing the dislodged can top from dropping into the interior of the can, causing its subsequent difiicul-t removal with loss of part of the cans contents in regaining it.

(10) In cases where cans have liquid contents only, a simple two hole puncturing by (1) the point at the distal end of the head and (2) the one made by the cutter blade (without the usual circular clockwise rotation of the head) are all that are necessary.

Generically construed, the improved opener is characterized by an elongated rigid head adapted to overlie the can top in a generally horizontal plane, said head atent 0 being of a length greater than one-half the diameter of the can top and provided at its distal end with a depending journal which may be removably anchored in a hole punched therefor at the center of the cans top, a handle aflixed to the proximal end of said head, and a cutter blade unit slidingly and adjustably mounted on said head, said blade depending perpendicularly a prescribed distance below the bottom of the head and having a concave arcuately curved crescent-shaped cutting edge directed forwardly and facing toward the lengthwise leading edge of said head.

The invention also features the fact that the arcuity and length of the cutting edge is such that it may be hooked into the metal being sliced or cut, wherein said blade hooks and physically locks itself to the metal, and at the same time prevents the bottom of the bar-like head from dropping down and resting upon and frictionally dragging around the marginal bead at the top of the can which is being acted upon, only to impede the cleaving action of the cutter blade.

More specifically, the invention is characterized by a linearly straight bar of prerequisite length constituting a head, said bar being elongated, rectangular in crosssection and having fiat top and bottom surfaces, said bar having a central lengthwise slot opening through said top and bottom surfaces, a curved pointed anchoring and journalling prong secured to the distal end portion of the bar and depending laterally from the bottom surface, a handle afiixed to the proximal end of said bar, and a cutter unit slidingly cooperable with said slot, said unit embodying a depending cutter blade the cutting edge of which is arcuately concave and scimitar-like in elevation and being capable of hooking itself in the metal and which retains its cleaving and forward circular path movement and effects the desired cutting action simply by turning the handle and bar clockwise and without requiring the user to rest or press the bar against the bead which n'ms the can.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the can opener of the present invention and how it is applied and intended to be used;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in section and elevation taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2.

The opener of the present invention includes a head which comprises a bar 58 having flat top and bottom sides or surfaces 60 and 62'. An anchoring and journalling prong or stud is denoted at 64 on the forward end portion of the bar 58 and is at right angles to the bottom surface thereof and has a hooked beak or bill which is suitably pointed at 66 to be forced through the can at the center of the top thereof as illustrated. It is to be noted that the prong 64, after joining the far end 68 of the bar 58, curves downwardly, then distally and outwardly, until its forwardly pointed end 66 has made what is virtually a quarter circle from the joint.

The proximal end 70 is provided with a shank 72 carrying the suitably constructed handle 74. A lengthwise centrally positioned slot in the bar 58, which opens through the top and bottom surfaces 60 and 62, is denoted at 76. This slot is of the special construction shown perhaps best in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3 the right hand side of the slot is provided with a longitudinal V-shaped groove 78 the mouth of which opens into the slot 76. The vertex 80 of the groove 78 constitutes a track. A similar but rectangular groove 82 is provided along the left of the slot 76. The bottom wall of this groove 32 constitutes a ledge-like flange 84 and the interior of .the.-top.-wall.'86. of. the groove 82 .is fashioned into a.toothed rack.. The teeth of the rackare V-shaped incross-section and. constitute. fixed..detents 88 as shown.-

in FIG. 2.1 Thespaces between, as .at. 90, .-are. also V-shaped.

A traverse or cutter bar unit is operablein-the slot 58 and-.comprises. a slideof general block-like form as atv The slide is provided with an upstandingrigid stem 94 which extends upwardly through the .slot and above the topsurface 60 where it functions as a-lever-like fin-.

ger-grip. The right hand end portion of theblock or slide isprovided with an extension 96 constitutingan adjusting andfulcruming shoe. The tip of this is rounded so that it rocks and rides properly in-the track 80 in a seem- Thevertical dimension of thecross-sectionof the shoe is much less than that of the groovesothat the entire unit may gravitate from the ingly obvious manner.

up full line position (seen in FIG. 3) to-the down dotted line position also shown there. The left hand .end portion of this block or body 92 is provided witha plurality of spaced parallel splines- 98.. Each spline (as shown in" cross-section.

ablade 100 which is wedged-shaped in cross-section and cutting edge'1il4 whichis concave and of the curvature or arcuity shown. The significantcentral portion of this edge is denoted at A.

The cutting blade is effectually designed, It not only cuts cleanly, but automatically locks itself vertically in that part of the tin can top being cut. This locking actionv prevails as long as any clockwise pressure onthe. bar. is maintained. Or, in using, .thecan, opener, one does not have to consciously maintain the bar in a hori-.

zontal plane in rela'tion'to the top of the can in order. to effect a continuous cutting. Aside from this, as compared to earlier patents, the friction between the head or bar andthe rim of the can is either eliminated or greatly reduced.

Reference may be made here to that physical principle which states: The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of deflection. Thus, if it is considered that. the arc illustrated defines the cutting edge of the blade and the.

point of contact between the blade and'the tin supplying the force, meeting the are at the point shown (or any portion of the concave edge) will then be deflected to point A. Equally and oppositely, a force (in-this case, the oncoming tin'surface to be cut) which would meet the concave would, by deflection land at A." Accordingly, I attempt to show that any force or matter which wouldcome squarely into contact with the concave edge of the cutter would wind up at A, and in fact, would be locked there axially more or less mid-way between the upper. and lower component arcs of the concave.

Also observe tongue or shoe 96 engaging groove 78 acting as a guide and pivotfor the cutting assembly or atrayerse for its forward part. sure is directed toward the concave edge of the blade, this action kicks the blade upward and backward, so that its splines in the cutting assemblyv become enmeshed with the mortises of the rack, thereby holding it in a firmly locked grip radially.

At this point it is desirable tomention that the can opener shown and described is characterized by a number of new and'improved features but particularly by the adoption and use of a novel slide or traverse operable in the slotted bar andhaving at thebottom thereof the depending Scimitar-like cutting blade :.with its concave- Conversely, when pres' 4. cutting edge directed toward the leading edge of the head or bar whereby it is thus in a position to automatically lock itself to the metal being cut.

In use, the hooked prong at the distal end of the bar or head is pushed and punched through the central portion of the can top in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. The cutter assembly is then manually adjustedin an obvious manner so that its. cutting position is. located to travel through a'circular path inwardly of the bead or rim of the can. Then, when the prong is almost completelyinserted .into. the pierced hole. in.-the can, .and

the bar 60 in FIG.-1 is .beingloweredto assume .its final horizontal plane, saidprong commences to lockitself to.

the distal end of the elongated headof .the top of the can. While the headis not completely lowered, and the cutting blade has not as yet touched the top of .the can,

the block-like form 92, FIG. 3, it still in a gravitatedposition on the bottom wall 84 of the head. It is thenmanually adjustedby means of the stem or finger-grip 94 to the correct cutting radius. Then the splines 98 and corresponding detents will engage nicely as blade .100 de scends upon the top of the can, pierces it and maintains.

a clockwise motion in the cutting process. The turning continues until almost a complete circle is made-or until the starting. and ending points of the out almost join. The .user halts the encirclement and exerts a downward pressure until the head or-bar rests, or almost rests, on the rirn of the can. Using this probable resting point'as a fulcrum, the user-continues his downward push on the handle and the prong, now assumesthe characteristic of a hook pulling the top of the can up to'make'an opening sufiicient for'emptying the.

cans contents. The user may then disengage the opener from the lid.

On the other hand, if the user wishes, he may, of

principles of the invention. Further, since numerous.

modifications and'changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, itis not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and .de-

scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and.

equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin. the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as newis as follows:

1. A manually applicable, removable and usable can.

opener wholly. mechanical in constructionand comprising alinearlystraightv bar of prerequisite length constituting a head,-said bar being elongated, rectangular in crosssection and having flat top and bottom surfaces, said bar having a central lengthwise slot cpeningthroughsaid top and bottom surfaces, a curved pointed anchoring and journalling prong secured to the distal end portion of the banand depending. laterally from thebottomsurface, a

handlaflixed to the proximal. end of said bar, and a cutter unit. slidingly cooperableiwith said slot, said'unit embodying a depending cutter blade the cutting edge of:

which isarcuately concave and. Scimitar-like in elevation and being capable of hooking .itself in the metal and.

which retains is lcleaving and forward circular path movement and effects the desired cuttingaction simply by turningthe handle and barclockwise and without requiringth'e user torest or press the bar against the head which rims the can, said unit embodying a slidable trav-' erse operable in'said slot, said slot having a longitudinal groove bordering on one lengthwise side and providinga track, said traverse having a shoe slidable in said track, saidtraverse also having at least one spline selectively and releasably engageable with detents'provided therefor along'zthe other lengthwise side of the slot;

2. A manually applicable, removable and usable can" opener wholly mechanical in construction and comprising.v

a linearly straight bar of prerequisite length constituting a head, said bar being elongated, rectangular in crosssection and having flat top and bottom surfaces, said bar having a central lengthwise slot opening through said top and bottom surfaces, a curved pointed anchoring and journalling prong secured to the distal end portion of the bar and depending laterally from the bottom surface, a handle atfixed to the proximal end of said bar, and a cutter unit slidingly cooperable with said slot, said unit embodying a depending cutter blade the cutting edge of which is arcuately concave and scimitar-like in elevation and being capable of hooking itself in the metal and which retains its cleaving and forward circular path movement and effects the desired cutting action simply by turning the handle and bar clockwise and without requiring the user to rest or press the bar against the bead which rims the can, said unit embodying a slidable traverse operable in said slot, said slot having a longitudinal groove bordering on one lengthwise side and providing a track, said traverse having a shoe slidable in said track, said traverse also having at least one spline selectively and releasably engageable with detents provided therefor along the other lengthwise side of the slot, said groove being V-shaped in cross-section, said shoe being disposed at a height less than the vertical dimension between the bottom wall and the bottom of the detents and also of a cross-section less than the crosssection of the groove in order to rise and fall within the confines of the groove, the tip of the shoe being convexly rounded and providing a fulcrum, the latter slidingly and also rockably cooperable with the crotch portion of the groove.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the detents are rigid tooth-like components of a rack.

4. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the detents are rigid tooth-like components of a rack, said detents being V-shaped in cross-section and the spaces between the detents being likewise V-shaped in crosssection.

5. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the detents are rigid tooth-like components of a rack, said detents being V-shaped in cross-section and the spaces between the detents being likewise V-shaped in crosssection, and said spline being correspondingly V-shaped in cross-section and segmental in side elevation.

6. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the detents are rigid tooth-like components of a rack, said detents being V-shaped in cross-section and the spaces between the detents being likewise V-shaped in crosssection, and said spline being correspondingly V-shaped in cross-section and segmental in side elevation, and said traverse being provided with an upstanding rigid stem projecting upwardly through the slot and above the same and providing a finger-grip by way of which the traverse may be bodily lifted, lowered and shifted to make necessary adjustments of the traverse.

7. A can opener comprising a bar having a longitudinal slot therein, means for pivotally anchoring the bar to a can top, an operating handle on the bar, a traverse operable for adjustment in the slot, a cutter mounted on the traverse, and coacting means on the traverse and in the slot for securing said traverse in adjusted position, one of the side walls of the slot having a generally V-shaped longitudinal groove therein, said traverse being slidably and rockably engaged in the groove, the secondnamed means including teeth on a wall of the groove, and teeth on the traverse engageable with the first-named teeth in response to rocking movement of the traverse.

8. A can opener comprising a bar having a longitudinal slot therein, one of the side walls of the slot having a generally U-shaped longitudinal groove therein, means for pivotally anchoring the bar to a can top, an operating handle on the bar, a traverse operable for adjustment in the bar slidably and rockably engaged in the groove, a cutter on the traverse, and means for securing the traverse in adjusted position in response to rocking movement thereof.

9. A can opener comprising a bar having a longitudinal slot therein, one of the side walls of the slot having a generally U-shaped longitudinal groove therein, means for pivotally anchoring the bar to a can top, an operating handle on the bar, a traverse operable for adjustment in the bar slidably and rockably engaged in the groove, a cutter on the traverse, and means for securing the traverse in adjusted position in response to rocking movement thereof, the second-named means including teeth on a wall of the groove, and teeth on the traverse engageable with the first-named teeth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 2,851 Lecompte Feb. 4, 1868 Re. 10,443 Sharp Jan. 29, 1884 76,490 McCormick Apr. 7, 1868 95,205 Dewey Sept. 28, 1869 466,193 Smith Dec. 29, 1891 676,789 Weir June 18, 1901 981,686 Preist Jan. 17, 1911 1,536,026 Moore Apr. 28, 1925 1,598,080 James Aug. 31, 1926 

